When I first came here to America, I realized how important Emergency 911 Response is. I have heard and read stories about people calling 911 and were helped or rescued in no time, that’s how quick these men and women are in helping others. Of course, I also have heard funny stories of kids dialing 911 because they need help with their assignments or they need help finding their missing toys. One thing is for sure, I always have my 911 number ready in my phone, just in case.

The gospel passage we hear today sounds like a set-up for a 911 call to heaven. Jesus seems to be saying that when it appears the sky really is falling, look for God. Today’s readings, invite us to consider those times in our own lives when, with seeming catastrophe near, we made a 911 call to God. Sometimes the response was not immediate, or we didn’t get the answer we wanted or were expecting. Yet, strangely, still we give thanks, still we remember his faithfulness, still we celebrate his promise to be with us always.

Hope is the reason. The Thanksgiving Day is coming up and what a wonderful day to celebrate our hope. As a parish community, we hope for a lot of things – we hope that we can build together a community of love, a community that celebrates life, a community that centers our hope in Jesus. On Thursday this week, let us join everyone in giving thanks to God for blessings us to this day and for giving us the reason to HOPE.​